Hello ATPF friends! Julie here from redheadcandecorate.com where it is brutally cold. Our wind chill in Michigan got down to -35 recently. That is just crazy. However, I have my tea and blanket and I'm here to share one of my all time favorite DIY furniture makeovers with you…my "Black Stereo Console Makeover". … [Read more...]

Last year, while on a family vacation near Astoria, Oregon, we stopped by Fort Clatsop where Lewis & Clark spent the winter months after reaching the Pacific Ocean. It didn’t take long for my kids to get hooked on Lewis & Clark--wandering the grounds with historical interpreters, getting to dress up in replica clothing, writing with quills, … [Read more...]

My daughter has yet to meet a dog without some redeemable quality. Every dog regardless of pedigree, grooming, or personality is either the cutest, sweetest, or smartest dog on earth. And if they’re not, well, it’s not their fault and they deserve an extra dose of love and affection. … [Read more...]

At some point over the past year, my son fell in love with Chronicles of Narnia. One day he’ll claim to be Peter Pevensie, the next he begs to officially change his name to Caspian.
I am forever cast as the White Witch and his two sisters willingly play along as Susan & Lucy. When deciding on a theme for his 5th birthday, Narnia was the … [Read more...]

One of my favorite things about having an 8 year old is how her interests and tastes have begun to influence mine. She’s reading cool classic Nancy Drew books (which I never read as a kid), introducing me to music that I totally love, and her favorite colors inspired a room re-do in our house.
She has also developed a pretty clear vision for … [Read more...]

I’ve lived on the west coast for the last seven years and it’s taken me about that long to form a west coast orientation in my brain. I no longer envision the cliff walk overlooking mansions when people say "Newport" or the rocky shores of Maine when people say "Portland".
But every now and then I’ll wax nostalgic on something from childhood … [Read more...]

Thank you so much for all of your kind words yesterday about my daughter's Super Science Party! I promised I'd be back today to show you just how I managed to make her 8 Layer Surprise Cake and I never go back on a promise.
When dreaming up a birthday cake for my daughter’s science party, I stumbled upon a photo of a wedding cake that looked … [Read more...]

When my daughter was 4 ½ her greatly anticipated Christmas gift was a pair of plastic safety goggles and a Mind Blowing Science kit. Fast-forward a year and a half and a few dozen Steve Spangler episodes on youtube and she’s pretty confident that any opportunity is a good one to test the laws of science.
Why limit yourself to a beaker and a test … [Read more...]

Easter has snuck up on me this year. I know that JoAnn’s has already moved on to its patriotic Memorial Day décor, but I’m still putting away stray hearts from February. Throw in spring break, a special 6 year old birthday celebration, and a week long visit from my in-laws and I’ve realized that our Easter will have a much … [Read more...]